Career Overview: Roles and Responsibilities of an Optometrist
Optometrists are healthcare professionals who examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, including the eyes and related structures. They evaluate patients’ vision, prescribe medications when appropriate, and help patients with corrective options such as eyeglasses and contact lenses. Optometrists also counsel patients on surgical and non-surgical treatment options, provide services such as vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation, and may perform certain minor procedures. In addition, they can identify signs of systemic health conditions that affect the eyes, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. While optometrists provide comprehensive eye care and pre- and post-operative care for eye surgery, they differ from ophthalmologists, who are physicians trained to perform major eye surgeries and provide medical and surgical treatment for eye diseases.
- Private Practice & Group Practices
- Retail/Commercial Settings
- Hospitals & Medical Centers
- Academic Institutions
- Ophthalmic Industry
- Community Health Centers
(After obtaining a O.D.)
- Pediatric Optometry
- Ocular Disease/Primary Care
- Low Vision
- Contact Lenses
- Rehabilitative Optometry
- Geriatric Optometry
- Neuro-Optometry
- Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO)
- Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE)
- American Optometric Association (AOA)
- American Academy of Optometry (AAOpt)
- National Optometric Association (NOA)
- World Council of Optometry (WCO)
Most optometry programs require or strongly recommend:
- General Biology – 2 semesters with labs
- General Chemistry – 2 semesters with labs
- Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters with labs
- General Physics – 2 semesters with labs
- Anatomy & Physiology – 2 semesters with labs
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Calculus
- Statistics
- English
- Humanities & Social Sciences – 6 credit hours total
Sociology, economics, anthropology, history, political science, or psychology
Coursework varies by school. Always verify specific requirements on each program’s website.
Apart from a bachelor's or a higher degree for admissions, you are required to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Some schools and colleges of optometry may accept other standardized exams such as the GRE, MCAT, DAT, or PCAT. Check with the schools/colleges directly for their exam requirements. Check out schools and their required exams.
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized, computer-based exam required by most optometry schools in the United States as part of the admissions process. It is designed to assess an applicant’s academic ability and understanding of foundational science concepts necessary for success in optometry school. Optometry programs consider both individual section scores and overall performance when evaluating applicants, and the exam helps schools compare candidates on a standardized measure of scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Subjects Tested: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning (algebra, numerical calculations, conversions)
Learn more about other exams:
Always check each school’s website to confirm testing requirements.
Application: Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)
- Personal Information
- Academic History
Transcript Entry
Standardized Tests - Supporting Information
Recommendations
Achievements
Experiences - Program Materials
Questions
Documents
Prerequisites
Learn more about the OptomCAS Application
Research Programs: Create a list of programs and review their individual requirements for prerequisite courses, healthcare experience hours, testing (OAT/GRE/MCAT/etc.), and letters of recommendation.
Obtain Shadowing/Observation Hours: Shadowing helps you understand the general organization and structure of a day in the healthcare field. Shadowing an optometrist can help introduce you to their roles and scope of practice.
Typical Expectations
- Aim to have at least 50 hours of shadowing experience with an optometrist, but hours vary by program.
Gain Research Experience: While not explicitly required, research can be an additional way to show your engagement with the healthcare field. These experiences may involve working in laboratory science, clinical research, public health studies, or social science research related to healthcare. For many applicants, research helps show that they can analyze data, think scientifically, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare knowledge
Getting Started
- Visit the USC Office of Undergraduate Research for programs, funding, and project listings
- Talk to your professors after class or during office hours about possible openings
Get involved: Programs strongly encourage applicants to have at least 1 year of consistent involvement and interaction with their communities. Whether it’s through a Student Organization or Volunteer experience, these positions can help applicants develop essential skills such as empathy, communication, and cultural awareness, which are critical when working with individuals and families interacting with the healthcare system.
Letters of Recommendation: To obtain meaningful letters, build relationships early by actively participating in class or clinical experiences, seeking feedback, and demonstrating reliability and initiative. When requesting a letter, ask well in advance, provide your resume, your personal statement, and clearly share deadlines and submission instructions. Thoughtful, detailed recommendations from individuals who know you well can significantly strengthen your application by offering credible, personalized perspectives on your strengths and potential. Always verify the individual requirements for each program.
Typical Expectations
- Most programs require 3-4
- At least 1 letter should be from a practicing optometrist
- At least 1 letter should be from a professor (science professor preferred)